194# “我哪个时刻来到你那里，你也不知道”表示对那个时间和那时状态的无知。这从“时刻”和“不知道”的含义清楚可知：“时刻”是指当人死亡时的时间，以及那时他的状态；“不知道”是指无知。经上说“我哪个时刻来到你那里”，即“如同贼一样”，这句话在字义上的意思是，主会如此来到；但它在灵义上的意思是，邪恶和虚假将偷走他们从圣言所拥有的知识。因为作恶在圣言的字义上被归于耶和华或主，但它在灵义上的意思是，祂不向任何人行恶，而是人向自己行恶(参看《属天的奥秘》，2447, 5798, 6071, 6991, 6997, 7533, 7632, 7643, 7679, 7710, 7877, 7926, 8227, 8228, 8284, 8483, 8632, 9010, 9128, 9306, 10431节)。
此外，“时刻”(Hour，经上或译为时辰、时候、小时，时等)也表示状态，因为在圣言中，一切时间，如一天，一周，一月，一年，一个时代，都表示生命状态，“时刻”同样如此。其原因可参看《天堂与地狱》(162–169节)，那里论述了天堂里的时间。但由于“时刻”既表示时间，也表示状态，所以在圣言提到“时刻或时辰”的地方，几乎无法得知它除了表示时间外还表示什么。如马太福音：
家主雇工人进他的葡萄园，他们从第三时辰，第六时辰，第九时辰，第十一时辰劳动，并领了一样的报酬。(马太福音20:1–16)
这些“时辰”在世上表示时间，但在天堂表示生命的状态，因为天堂没有时辰，那里的时间不像世上的那样可以测算，并分成日子，这些日子又分成时辰。因此，天使感知到的不是这些时间，而是那些死去之人的生命状态，无论老人，年轻人，少年人还是孩子，他们同样为自己获得属灵生命。“在葡萄园中劳动”是指通过应用于生活功用的来自圣言的真理和良善的知识而为自己获得属灵生命。在圣言中，“葡萄园”表示属灵教会，和属于人的属灵生命(参看《属天的奥秘》，3220, 9139节)。“第三时辰”、“第六时辰”和“第九时辰”表示相似的生命状态，因为在圣言中，所有数字都具有意义，这些数字具有相似的含义。“三”表示一个完全的状态，或完整直到结束之物(2788, 4495, 7715, 8347, 9825节)；“六”和“九”同样如此。但“十一”表示一种尚未完全的状态，但却接受的状态，就是诸如善良友好的孩子和婴儿的那种状态。所有人都劳动到的“十二时辰”表示在其完全中的真理和良善(577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913节)。在圣言中，所有数字都具有意义(4495, 4670, 5265, 6175, 9488, 9659, 10217, 10253节)；相乘得出的复合数字和构成它的简单数字具有相似的含义，因此，“三”、“六”和“九”具有相似的含义(5291, 5335, 5708, 7973节)。
由于“十二”表示在其完全中的真理和良善，因而表示由此而来的人的光或聪明的状态，所以主说：
白日不是有十二小时吗？人在白日走路，就不会跌倒。(约翰福音11:9)
在其它地方，“时”也表示生命的状态，如启示录：
那四个天使就被释放，他们原是预备好了，到某年某月某日某时，要杀人的第三部分。(启示录9:15)
此处提到的“时”表示人里面的邪恶状态，等到我们解释这些话时，这一点是显而易见的。由此明显可知，“我哪个时刻来到你那里，你也不知道”表示人不仅不知道他的死亡时间，而且也不知道那时他的状态，而这个状态将持续到永远；因为人过去的生命，甚至直到生命结束的状态如何，他将永远保持如何。
主在福音书中经常说类似的话，如马太福音：
你们不知道你们的主哪个时刻来到；你们也要预备；因为你们想不到的时候，人子就来了。(马太福音24:42, 44)
同一福音书：
在想不到的日子，不知道的时辰，那仆人的主人要来。(马太福音24:50)
又：
所以你们要警醒，因为人子要来的那日子，那时辰，你们不知道。(马太福音25:13)
要知道，人永远保持其整个生命一直到结束时的品质或样子，根本不是他在死亡的那一刻的样子。因为那时，对恶人来说，悔改是没有用的；而对善人来说，悔改会强化或坚固这种状态。
194. And thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. That this signifies man's ignorance of that time, and of his state then, is evident from the signification of hour, as being the time when man is to die, and also his state at the time; and from the signification of not knowing it, as being ignorant. It is said, what hour I will come upon thee, namely, as a thief; and in the sense of the letter is hereby meant that the Lord would thus come, but in the spiritual sense it is meant that evils and falsities would steal the knowledges which they have from the Word; for, in the sense of the letter of the Word, it is attributed to Jehovah, or the Lord, that He does evil, but, in the spiritual sense it is meant that He does evil to no one, but that man does evil to himself (as may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 2447, 5798, 6071, 6991, 6997, 7533, 7632, 7643, 7877, 7679, 7710, 7926, 8227, 8228, 8284, 8483, 8632, 9010, 9128, 9306, 10431).
[2] The reason why hour also signifies state is, because in the Word all times, as a day, a week, a month, a year, an age, signify states of life, and hence hour has a similar signification. (The cause of this may be seen in the work, Arcana Coelestia 3220, 9139.) By the third, the sixth, and the ninth hours similar states of life are signified; for all numbers in the Word are significative, and those numbers have a similar signification. Three signifies a full state, or what is complete even to the end (see n. 2788, 4495, 7715, 8347, 9825). The like is signified by six and nine; but the number eleven signifies a state not yet full, but yet a state of reception, such as that of well-disposed children and infants. The twelfth hour up to which they all laboured, signifies truths and goods in their fulness (see n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913. That all numbers in the Word are significative, see n. 4495, 4670, 5265, 6175, 9488, 9659, 10217, 10253; and that multiplied numbers have a similar signification to the simple numbers from which they arise by multiplication, hence three, six, and nine have a similar signification, see n. 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973).
[3] Since twelve signifies truths and goods in their fulness, and thus a state of light or of man's intelligence therefrom, the Lord says,
"Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walk in the day, he stumbleth not" (John 11:9).
In other places, also by hours are signified states of life, as in the Apocalypse:
"The four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to slay the third part of men" (9:15).
By the times here mentioned are meant states of evil in men, as will be seen when we come to the explanation of those words.
From these considerations it is now evident that by, Thou shalt not know in what hour I will come upon thee, is meant man's ignorance not only of the time of his death, but also of the state of his life at that time, which state remains to eternity; for according to the quality of the state of man's past life even to the end of it, such he remains to eternity.
[4] Similar things are frequently said by the Lord in the Evangelists, as in Matthew:
"Ye know not in what hour your Lord doth come; be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man shall come" (24:42, 44).
Again:
"The lord of the servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of" (24:50).
And again:
"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man shall come" (25:13).
It must be known that a man remains to eternity such as the quality of his whole life has been to the end, and not at all such as he is at the hour of death; for repentance then in the case of the evil is of no avail, but with the good it confirms the state.
194. And thou shalt not know in what hour I will come upon thee, signifies ignorance of that time and of the state then. This is evident from the signification of "hour," as being the time when man is to die, and also his state then; and from the signification of "not knowing" it, as being ignorance. It is said "In what hour I will come upon thee," namely, "as a thief," and this means, in the sense of the letter, that the Lord will so come; but in the spiritual sense, it means that evils and falsities will steal away the knowledges that they have from the Word. For in the sense of the letter of the Word doing evil is attributed to Jehovah, or to the Lord, but in the spiritual sense the meaning is that He does evil to no one, but that man does evil to himself (See Arcana Coelestia 2447, 5798, 6071, 6991, 6997, 7533, 7632, 7643, 7679, 7710, 7877, 7926, 8227, 8228, 8284, 8483, 8632, 9010, 9128, 9306, 10431).
[2] "Hour," moreover signifies state, because all times in the Word, as a day, a week, a month, a year, an age, signify states of life, so likewise "an hour" (the reason of this may be seen in The work on Arcana Coelestia 9139, 3220. That "three" signifies a full state, or what is complete even to the end, n. 2788, 4495, 7715, 8347, 9825; likewise "six" and "nine." But "eleven" signifies a state not yet full, and yet a receptive state such as there is with well-disposed children and infants. The "twelfth hour," to which all labored, signifies truths and goods in their fullness, n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913. That all numbers in the Word are significative, n. 4495, 4670, 5265, 6175, 9488, 9659, 10217, 10253; and that composite numbers have a signification like that of the simple numbers from which they arise by multiplication, thus "three," "six," and "nine," have a similar signification, n. 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973.)
[3] Since "twelve" signifies truths and goods in their fullness, thus man's state of light or intelligence from these, the Lord says:
Are there not twelve hours of the day? If a man walk in the day he stumbleth not (John 11:9).
Elsewhere, also, "hours" signify states of life, as in Revelation:
Those four angels were loosed, which were prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men (Revelation 9:15).
The times here mentioned mean the states of evil with man, as will be seen in the explanation of these words hereafter. From this it is now evident that "Thou shalt not know in what hour I will come upon thee," means not only that one is ignorant of the time of death but also of the state of life at that time which will continue to eternity; for such as the state of man's past life is, even to the end, such he remains to eternity.
[4] Like things are said by the Lord here and there in the Evangelists. In Matthew:
Ye know not in what hour your Lord will come; be ye ready; for in an hour that ye think not, the Son of man cometh (Matthew 24:42, 44).
The lord of the servant shall come in the day when he expecteth not, and in an hour that he knoweth not (Matthew 24:50).
Be wakeful, therefore, for ye know not the day, neither the hour, wherein the Son of man shall come (Matthew 25:13).
It should be known that man remains to eternity such as his whole life is, even to the end, and by no means such as he is at the hour of death: repentance at that time with the evil is of no avail, but with the good it strengthens.
194. "Et nescies qua hora veniam super te." - Quod significet ignorantiam illius temporis et status tunc, constat ex significatione "horae", quod sit tempus quo moriturus homo, et quoque status ejus tunc; et ex significatione "nescire" illam, quod sit ignorantia: dicitur "qua hora veniam super te", nempe "tanquam fur", et per id in sensu litterae intelligitur quod Dominus sic venturus; sed in sensu spirituali intelligitur quod malum et falsum furaturum sit cognitiones quae apud eos ex Verbo sunt; nam in sensu litterae Verbi tribuitur Jehovae seu Domino quod malum faciat, sed in sensu spirituali intelligitur quod nulli malum faciat, sed ipse homo sibi (videatur n. 2447, 5798, 1
6071, 2
6991 6997, 7533, 7632, 7643, 3
7877, 7679, 7710, 7925, 8227, 8228, 8284, 8483, 8632, 4
[2] Quod "hora" etiam significet statum, est quia omnia tempora in Verbo, sicut dies, septimana, mensis, annus, saeculum, significant status vitae; ita quoque "hora": (causa videatur in opere De Caelo et Inferno 162-169, ubi De Tempore in Caelis agitur): sed quia "hora" significat et tempus et statum, ideo in Verbo ubi "hora" dicitur, parum sciri potest quod aliud praeter tempus per illam significetur: ut apud Matthaeum,
Paterfamilias conduxit operarios in vineam; qui laborarunt ab hora tertia, sexta, nona, undecima, et parem mercedem acceperunt (20:1-17);
per "horas" has in mundo intelliguntur tempora, sed in caelo status vitae; quia in caelo non sunt horae, ex causa quia tempora non mensurabilia sunt et distinguuntur in dies, et hi in horas, ut in mundo; quare pro illis percipiunt status vitae hominum qui moriuntur senes, juvenes, adolescentes, aut pueri, qui aeque spiritualem vitam sibi compararunt: "laborare in vinea" est illam sibi comparare per applicatas cognitiones veri et boni ex Verbo ad usus vitae; per "horam tertiam", "sextam" et "nonam" similis status vitae significatur; nam omnes numeri in Verbo significant, et illi numeri simile.
(Quod "vinea" in Verbo significet ecclesiam spiritualem, et apud hominem vitam spiritualem, videatur n. 9139, 3220; quod "tria" significent statum plenum, seu completum usque ad finem, n. 2788, 4495, 7715, 8347, 9825. Simile "sex" et "novem." "Undecim" autem significant statum nondum plenum, sed usque statum receptibilem, qualis est apud pueros probos et infantes. "Duodecima hora", ad quam omnes laborarunt, 5
significat vera et bona in suo pleno, n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 3272, 3858, 3913. Quod omnes numeri in Verbo significent, n. 4495, 6
4670, 5265, 6175, 9488, 9659, 10217, 10253: et quod simile numeri multiplicati cum simplicibus a quibus per multiplicatione exsurgunt, inde simile "tria", "sex", et novem, n. 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973.)
[3] Quoniam "duodecim" significant vera et bona in suo pleno, ita statum lucis seu intelligentiae hominis ex illis, ideo Dominus dicit,
"Nonne duodecim horae diei? Si quis ambulat in die, non offendit" (Johannes 11:9):
alibi etiam per "horas" significantur status vitae: ut in Apocalypsi,
"Soluti sunt quatuor illi angeli, parati ad horam, ad diem et mensem et annum, ut occidant tertiam partem hominum" (9:15);
hic per tempora memorata intelliguntur status mali apud hominem, quod videbitur in explicatione illorum verborum in sequentibus. Ex his nunc patet quod per "Nescies qua hora veniam super te", non modo intelligatur quod ignores tempus mortis, sed etiam tunc statum vitae mansurum in aeternum; nam qualis est status vitae anteactae hominis usque ad finem, talis manet homo in aeternum.
[4] Simile dicit Dominus passim apud Evangelistas: apud Matthaeum,
"Non scitis qua hora Dominus Vester venturus est; .... vos estote parati, quia qua hora non putatis, Filius hominis veniet" (24:42, 44);
"Veniet Dominus servi in die quo non exspectat, et in hora quam non novit" (24:50);
et apud eundem,
"Vigilate ergo, quia non novistis diem, neque horam, qua Filius hominis venturus est (25:13).
Sciendum est quod homo maneat in aeternum qualis est quoad totam suam vitam usque ad finem, et prorsus non qualis est in hora mortis; resipiscentia tunc apud malos nihil facit, sed apud bonos confirmat.
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